WANE OPEN TO ROBY RETURN
ENGLAND RL boss Shaun Wane has left the door open for James Roby to come out of international retirement and play in the World Cup.
The St Helens talisman surpassed Kevin Sinfield’s record for all-time Super League appearances as he played for the 455th time on Sunday.
Roby, 36, had initially planned to retire at the end of the season but there are hopes that he will extend his career by another 12 months.
That would open the door for a final hurrah in October’s tournament.
And while Wane insisted he wouldn’t try and convince Roby to change his mind, he would welcome him back into the fold.
He said: “He phoned me and told me he wanted to retire and I’ve too much respect for him. He’s an outstanding player and I’ve all the respect for James.
“If he changes his mind, I’m sure he’ll let me know.”
Fellow veteran hooker Micky McIlorum has earned a first call-up in nine years thanks to his fine form at Catalans.
Wane coached the 34-year-old at Wigan and he called on his rivals in the position to reach his level between now and the end of the season.
He said: “When I look at the form of the nines in the comp, he’s been playing really well.
“For us to have success in a World Cup we need a lot of players playing really well and we need people challenging for positions. Having Micky and James playing well keeps everyone on their toes and they know they have to perform.
“Micky has a really good life but he looks after himself. He’s a really good pro and that’s why he’s getting the performances he’s getting there.”